Apples and Oranges -- A Comparison

We have all been present at discussions (or arguments) in which one of the
combatants attempts to clarify or strengthen a point by comparing the subject
at hand with another item or situation more familiar to the audience or opponent.
More often than not, this stratagem instantly results in the protest that
"you're comparing apples and oranges!" This is generally perceived as being
a telling blow to the analogy, since it is generally understood that apples
and oranges cannot be compared. However, after being the recipient of just
such an accusation, it occurred to me that there are several problems with
dismissing analogies with the comparing apples and oranges defense.

First, the statement that something is like comparing apples and oranges
is a kind of analogy itself. That is, denigrating an analogy by accusing
it of comparing apples and oranges is, in and of itself, comparing apples
and oranges. More importantly, it is not difficult to demonstrate that apples
and oranges can, in fact, be compared (see figure 1).

Figure 1. Granny Smith Apple and Sunkist Orange

Materials and Methods

Both samples were prepared by gently desiccating them in a convection oven
at low temperature over the course of several days. The dried samples were
then mixed with potassium bromide and ground in a small ball-bearing mill
for two minutes. One hundred milligrams of each of the resulting powders
were then pressed into a circular pellet having a diameter of 1 cm and a
thickness of approximately 1 mm. Spectra were taken at a resolution of 1
cm-1 using a Nicolet 740 FTIR spectrometer. Figure 2 shows a comparison
of the 4000-400 cm-1 (2.5-25 mm) infrared transmission spectra of a Granny
Smith apple and a Sunkist Navel orange.

Figure. 2

Conclusions

Not only was this comparison easy to make, but it is apparent from the
figure that apples and oranges are very similar. Thus, it would appear that
the comparing apples and oranges defense should no longer be considered
valid. This is a somewhat startling revelation. It can be anticipated to
have a dramatic effect on the strategies used in arguments and discussions
in the future.